Growing up in the coastal town of Amanzimtoti, south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, a young leg-spinning talent by the name of Seshnie Naidu rose through the ranks of junior cricket before going on to represent the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, SA U19 Women and SA Emerging teams, all before her 18th birthday.<\/p>\n
Naidu was also announced as part of the 26-player squad attending the inaugural SA20 U19 Women\u2019s Camp being held at the CSA Centre of Excellence in Tshwane between 02 – 05 November. <\/p>\n
With an adoration ignited on the fields of Athlone Park Primary School, Naidu\u2019s first steps into the world of cricket were taken in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme. Her skill transcended gender norms and she joined the school\u2019s boys’ team before making history at the institution. All of this, possible through the unwavering support of her family, in particular, her parents. <\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up in Amanzimtoti and attending Athlone Park Primary, this is where my passion for cricket started. I started playing with the boys’ team and eventually was the first girl to captain the school\u2019s first team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am the youngest of three siblings and I live with my parents. My parents have always been to every training session since primary school and continue to do so,\u201d Naidu commented. <\/p>\n
A defining moment in Naidu\u2019s young career came at the age of nine when under the guidance of SA U19 and Women\u2019s National Academy head coach Dinesha Devnarain, the prodigy\u2019s bowling style was transformed.<\/p>\n
Naidu explained; \u201cWhen I was nine years old Coach Dinesha changed my bowling action from pace to leg-spin. She informed me that I finished my action off as a leg-spinner, we had a discussion about this and she started working with me. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was inspired by Dinesha\u2019s coaching methods and the way she played,\u201d Naidu said about the former Proteas Women all-rounder when asked to name her cricketing inspiration.<\/p>\n
After being identified from her time with the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union junior teams, the senior provincial team and while playing club cricket for the Chatsworth Sporting Club, Naidu was introduced into the CSA youth development pipeline before earning a call-up to the SA Emerging and SA U19 teams in 2022. <\/p>\n
The current J.R. Education Center matriculant was subsequently named in South Africa\u2019s squad for the inaugural ICC U19 Women\u2019s T20 World Cup held on home soil in January 2023. In her second World Cup match, Naidu picked up the best figures of two for 11 as the junior Proteas beat Scotland at Willowmoore Park. <\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoyed the experience of playing against ladies from different countries and making new friends. I was kind of nervous at first after seeing the media presence and being on the international stage. <\/p>\n
\u201cBeing part of the SA U19s and Emerging has helped me grow as a cricketer, on and off the field. It has also made me mentally stronger when facing difficult situations. The coaches and the ladies have been supportive towards me throughout this journey,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n
On her involvement with the Emerging squad in a once-off 50-over warm-up match in Benoni against New Zealand during their recent tour to South Africa, Naidu expressed; \u201cPlaying against New Zealand inspired me to up my game and I know I am ready for international cricket, bowling 10 overs and having an economy of five, has inspired me even further,\u201d<\/p>\n
Since achieving her goal of wearing the Dolphins jersey at the age of 13, an honour she cherishes until today, Naidu\u2019s next objective is to become one of the world\u2019s best as she eyes a Proteas Women shirt in the future. This is especially true after getting a taste of senior the national set-up after being invited to recent camps with Hilton Moreeng\u2019s charges. <\/p>\n
\u201cBeing part of the Proteas training camp has been such an honour for me. Meeting my hero Laura Wolvaardt was an incredible experience. I had so much to tell her but I was lost for words when I saw her. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll the ladies were incredible and very welcoming to the camp.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal for the Dolphins and the Proteas is to be one of the best leg-spinners in the world. My batting is also good and I just need to work a lot harder on going up the order. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got my Dolphins shirt and I can\u2019t wait to don my Proteas shirt. <\/p>\n
Speaking about Naidu\u2019s exceptional abilities and the pair\u2019s first encounter, Coach Devnarain commented: <\/p>\n
\u201cI was working for KZN Cricket at the time as a Hub coach and her dad brought her in for a session. She was actually a pace bowler and after just having a couple of sessions with her, I made the suggestion that she should be a leg-spinner. That\u2019s how we first started and that was in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way she goes about her game and being a leg-spinner is very exciting. What she possesses that can help her play for the Proteas would be her natural ability to control her leg-spin at a young age. She definitely offers something with the bat and she is quite agile in the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s got a great character and a good head on her shoulders to make a go of it all the way but based on her skill and what she offers, she is a fantastic prospect for the future,\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"